By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, April 3, GNA – POS Foundation in collaboration with the University of Ghana Students Representative Council (UGSRC) office of the Women’s Commission, has sensitised Level 100 students, predominantly females, against sexual harassment on campus.
The sensitisation seminar was to help create safe spaces for the fresh students, help them navigate their way through the academic journey and get to know of the University’s Anti-sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy and understand the interventions available to them.
Speaking on the topic: “Safe Spaces: Preventing Sexual Harassment on Campus,” Madam Mabel Ama Pinkrah Sowatey, Senior Assistant Registrar, UG, said the University over the years had been firm and ruthless in fighting the menace as it prioritised the safety and dignity of students, lecturers and all persons.
She said the Anti-sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy put in place by the school, frowned on sexual conducts that were unwelcomed, humiliating and intimidating, unsolicited advances and propositions of sexual nature, unwelcomed and inappropriate gestures and persistent propositions, amongst others.
“If you are caught sending pornography materials to someone who does not approve of them, if you take people to your halls and rooms and begin to take off their dress and if you send sexual WhatsApp emojis and the person says he or she does not like it, they all amount to sexual harassment,” Madam Sowatey said.
She said the Policy had in place a 14-member
committee made up of officials from public health, legal field, psychological field and other relevant areas to sit on any reported cases, adding that people including students and lecturers, who had fallen foul were dealt with.
“When there is the need to hand over the culprit to the police if it is rape or other harassments leading to assault, we do so without hesitation. The Policy is applicable to all members of the University community and persons who serve the University and its agents,” she added.
As Secretary to the Committee, Madam Sowatey said lecturers, students, non-teaching staff, National Service Personnel could be victims of sexual harassment and urged the students to be familiar with the Policy and report such cases for justice to be served.
“Let’s stop it and the stop starts with you. It is everybody’s responsibility to fight the menace. Be confident enough to report and if indeed the incidents happened after investigation and examination, the culprit will be punished and justice
will be served,” she noted.
Mr Jonathan Osei Owusu, Executive Director, POS Foundation, said engaging the students was significant as over the years they had witnessed several reports of sexual harassment on various campuses with some leading to very fatal situation.
“When young people get to school, especially the university, it is important for them to have a conducive environment to learn and not to be sexually harassed. So, it is important that we create awareness for students to have knowledge about sexual harassment and it is imperative the universities have gender centres dealing vigorously with the issue of sexual harassment,” he said.
The Executive Director said similar seminars were held at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the University of Education, Winneba.
There are plans to have it at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and University of Development Studies (UDS) Campus in Tamale.
Miss Eugenia Karen Selasie Amedeka, a Level 200 law student, said she had been empowered to speak out without fear and speak for people around her when it happened to them.
Muhevat Antoniate Abdulai, also a student, urged her colleagues to report to the 14-member committee through online, adding that:”please report any harassment so that you give the next person the chance to also report this practice which is inhumane.”
GNA
CA/